A stinky survivor

A sure sign of spring in the Upper Delaware region, particularly near waterways and boggy wetlands, is the green rising of skunk cabbage plants. So named for the repugnant odor of decaying flesh that the plant emits when bruised, this hardy perennial is also commonly referred to as polecat weed and hermit of the bog.

Skunk cabbage is an especially tenacious plant due to its contractile root system, which results in greater downward growth as roots contract and deepen, pulling the stem of the plant into the soil. The feature makes older plants nearly impossible to remove and helps to stabilize riverbanks.